Description
This Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail is a bright, bubbly, and festive pitcher drink perfect for holiday entertaining. It combines vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh citrus juice, and spicy ginger beer, garnished with pomegranate seeds and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup St-Germain elderflower liqueur (or other elderflower liqueur)
- 1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed clementine juice or blood orange juice
- 2 (12-ounce) bottles good-quality ginger beer, chilled
- 1 cup pomegranate arils (seeds)
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme or fresh mint leaves, for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine Base Ingredients: In a large pitcher, combine the vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, and freshly squeezed clementine (or blood orange) juice. Stir gently.
- Chill: Cover the pitcher and refrigerate until well-chilled and ready to serve (at least 30 minutes, or up to a few hours). Chilling the base mixture ensures the final cocktail is cold without needing excessive ice, which can dilute the drink.
- Assemble Just Before Serving: Just before serving, fill the pitcher with ice cubes. Pour in the chilled ginger beer. Add the pomegranate arils.
- Stir Gently: Stir the mixture gently with a long spoon to combine, being careful not to stir out too much carbonation from the ginger beer.
- Serve: Pour the cocktail into individual glasses filled with ice. Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh thyme or mint.
Notes
- Citrus Juice: Freshly squeezed clementine or blood orange juice provides the best flavor. Regular orange juice can be substituted.
- Elderflower Liqueur: St-Germain is a popular brand, but other elderflower liqueurs can be used. It adds a lovely floral note.
- Ginger Beer: Use a good-quality ginger beer with a nice spice level. Ginger ale is not a direct substitute, as it’s much less spicy.
- Chilling: Chilling the vodka/liqueur/juice mixture and the ginger beer beforehand is recommended.
- Make-Ahead: Prepare the base mixture (vodka, liqueur, juice) and chill it ahead of time. Add the ice, ginger beer, and garnishes just before serving to maintain freshness and carbonation.
- Serving: Serve in festive glasses like highballs or wine glasses.
- Storage: This pitcher cocktail is best enjoyed shortly after mixing due to the carbonation.